Realme C35 Full Review: Stunning Design, Great Battery & Performance Under Budget

Realme has earned a solid reputation in the smartphone industry for consistently delivering high-value devices across various price segments. The Realme C35 is one such offering that aims to strike the perfect balance between design, performance, camera, and battery life in the budget segment. Released as part of the popular C-series lineup, the Realme C35 is designed for young users who demand style along with substance. With its eye-catching design, capable internals, and aggressive pricing, the Realme C35 has become a strong contender in the budget smartphone market.

Realme C35 Design and Build Quality

One of the most distinguishing features of the Realme C35 is its design. Realme has taken a bold step by giving this budget phone a premium look that’s often reserved for mid-range or flagship models. The back panel comes with a Dynamic Glowing Design that reflects light in a glossy, stylish manner. It is available in colors like Glowing Black and Glowing Green, and both finishes offer a vibrant aesthetic that appeals particularly to younger consumers. The phone has flat edges, which gives it a modern, boxy appearance similar to iPhones. Despite being made of polycarbonate, the device feels sturdy in hand and does not come off as cheap. The fingerprint sensor is embedded into the power button on the side, which is both fast and convenient.

Realme C35 Display Quality

The Realme C35 is equipped with a 6.6-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display that offers a resolution of 2408 x 1080 pixels. This display size and resolution are rare in the entry-level segment and provide a sharp and vibrant visual experience. Whether you’re watching YouTube videos, scrolling through social media, or reading e-books, the display offers good clarity and colors. It also gets bright enough for outdoor visibility. Although the device lacks a high refresh rate (limited to 60Hz), the screen still offers decent smoothness for general usage. The minimal bezels and waterdrop notch at the top add to the immersive experience.

Realme C35 Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Realme C35 is powered by the Unisoc T616 processor, an octa-core chipset that provides a decent level of performance for everyday tasks. Coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card), the Realme C35 can handle multitasking, browsing, and light gaming without major hiccups. The Mali-G57 GPU onboard allows for smooth graphics rendering in casual games. However, demanding games may need to be run at lower settings for an optimal experience.

On the software side, the phone runs on Realme UI R Edition based on Android 11. This custom UI is a trimmed-down version of Realme’s standard UI, designed specifically for budget devices. It offers a clean and user-friendly interface with fewer pre-installed apps, ensuring smoother performance. While it lacks some advanced features found in higher-end Realme devices, it keeps the experience lightweight and fluid.

Realme C35 Camera Performance

The Realme C35 boasts a triple camera setup on the rear, headlined by a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This high-resolution lens captures detailed images in good lighting conditions. Photos tend to have accurate colors, decent dynamic range, and good sharpness for a budget phone. The secondary cameras include a 2MP macro sensor and a 0.3MP B&W sensor, which are more gimmicky than useful. The macro shots are acceptable but only under ideal conditions.

Realme C35 The front camera is an 8MP shooter housed within the notch. Selfies turn out decent under good lighting, though low-light selfies show noticeable noise and lack detail. The phone supports 1080p video recording at 30fps, and while it lacks advanced stabilization features, it performs well enough for casual video clips. For social media enthusiasts and occasional photography needs, the Realme C35 offers a satisfactory camera package.

Realme C35 Battery Life and Charging

Realme C35 Battery life is a major strength of the Realme C35. It houses a massive 5000mAh battery that easily lasts a full day and even extends to a day and a half for users with moderate usage. Whether you’re browsing, streaming, or attending online classes, the device handles power efficiently thanks to its energy-optimized chipset and software.

Realme C35 The phone supports 18W fast charging via a USB Type-C port. While this is not the fastest charging available, it is reasonable for the price. The included charger takes the phone from 0 to 100 percent in a little over two hours. Realme has focused on providing a safe and steady charging experience rather than pushing for high-speed charging in the budget segment.

Realme C35 Connectivity and Audio

In terms of connectivity, the Realme C35 offers dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The presence of a dedicated microSD card slot is a big plus for users who require extra storage without sacrificing dual-SIM capability. The call quality is solid with clear audio on both ends, and signal reception is reliable.

The audio output from the single bottom-firing speaker is loud enough for personal use, though it lacks depth and bass. Using headphones improves the experience considerably, and the inclusion of the 3.5mm jack ensures users with wired earphones are not left out.

Realme C35 Security and Biometrics

The Realme C35 features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that doubles up as the power button. It is responsive and quick to unlock the device. Face unlock is also available and performs reasonably well in good lighting. Realme has ensured that even budget users get access to modern biometric security features.

Realme C35 Storage and RAM Configurations

The Realme C35 comes in multiple storage and RAM variants including 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB, and 6GB+128GB configurations. All versions support microSD card expansion up to 1TB, which makes it convenient for users with large media libraries. The UFS 2.2 storage used in the device offers faster data transfer and app loading times compared to the older eMMC storage standard found in many budget devices.

Realme C35 User Experience and Overall Value

The Realme C35 is one of the few smartphones in its category that manages to look premium while maintaining a highly affordable price. It excels in delivering a balanced experience with solid battery life, decent performance, and an eye-catching design. While it may not be a gaming powerhouse or a camera beast, it is more than capable for day-to-day smartphone tasks. Realme has targeted this phone at young users, students, and anyone who wants a stylish phone without burning a hole in their pocket.

Conclusion

In summary, the Realme C35 stands out in the budget smartphone market with its impressive design, full HD+ display, dependable battery life, and capable primary camera. While there are areas where compromises have been made, such as the secondary cameras and average low-light performance, the overall value proposition is hard to beat. The phone caters perfectly to users looking for a stylish, reliable, and affordable smartphone. It redefines what a budget phone can look and feel like, and continues Realme’s tradition of pushing boundaries in the entry-level segment. For anyone seeking a sub-₹12,000 phone with a good balance of features and performance, the Realme C35 is an excellent choice.

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